HOOKER Richard Hibbard says Wales will try and replicate the British and Irish Lions’ ferocious intensity in July’s third Test victory over Australia when they clash with the Wallabies on Saturday.

With 11 Welshmen in their ranks, the Lions ended up thrashing the Aussies 41-16 in that decisive encounter, despite the game being on a knife-edge with half an hour to go.

It was their first series triumph for 16 years as the Wallabies withered late on after putting up incredible resistance, the showdown precariously poised with tourists leading just 19-16 until their power finally told.

Hibbard, 30, cemented his place as one of the world’s leading hookers as a result of that triumph, a huge hit on Australia’s legendary openside George Smith, bringing the veteran flanker’s comeback game to a premature end.

On the psychological boost that significant victory brought to Wales’ players, the Ospreys No 2 said: “Any person who beats the Wallabies, with no matter what side, is going to bring that experience to the party.

“The Lions were physical, we battered them for 60 minutes and that was the end of it, they couldn’t survive after that – we have to bring that ferocity again.

“It was intense, but one of those situations where you don’t want to walk off the pitch, you’re willing to crawl of. You would do anything for the win because it’s that important. It was the same against England (Wales’ record 30-3 victory to seal successive Six Nations triumphs) and the ferocity was just as high.”

On ending the Wallabies’ curse – Australia have won eight out of their last eight clashes with Wales including two secured in the last seconds of the game – Hibbard said: “We definitely want to win this, we’re going to win this and we have to bring the intensity from the off and the physicality right across the park. We know how good their seven (Michael Hooper) is and if we don’t deal with him it will be a tough game.

“We’ve been so close over so many games but now is the time to do it. We have been saying it so long and now we have to deliver. We targeted four from four so three isn’t too bad and is something we can achieve.

“It’s been so close for so many reasons. We’re a bit wiser now, the boys have been through some good experiences and we’ve been together a long time.”

And Hibbard says he has been happy with his year so far: “It’s been a good 12 months, I’ve been consistently improving and touch wood I have stayed injury free, which has helped a lot. I was part of the winning team in the Six Nations, went on the Lions and won that, it all helps and builds confidence in yourself and the team.”